A SNEAKY thief stole a 50 inch television from Fearon Hall on Friday, August 15.

The community centre, in Rectory Road, believes the theft happened some time after 9pm when everyone had left.

Chantell Poxon from the centre told the Echo: “Someone was using upstairs and we think somebody’s hidden downstairs. There was an attempt about a month ago where somebody hid in the kitchen area and when everything was all locked up they tried to pull the TV off the wall but it’s chained to the wall so they got away with nothing, they just made a bit of a mess. It looks like they used something sharp to cut through the chain this time and left through the fire exit door.

“Crowded House Church use it on a Sunday and the elderly people who come for community lunches use it as well. We probably won’t be able to afford to replace it.

“These people don’t think about what they are doing, they just see an opportunity and go for it.”

Loughborough Police commander Insp Nathan Kirk said there had been a recent “theme” of television thefts in the area, and urged anyone with information to come forward.

“We’re not sure whether it’s one or two people responsible who are travelling or little pockets of criminals hitting us but we are doing work on it,” he said.

“Anyone who has been offered second hand televisions, first of all be mindful that they might be stolen property but if you can pass any information about who is offering them we would be grateful for that.”

Anyone who may have seen suspicious activity, or who has any information about a crime, is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.